…our boss had asked me and a colleague to jointly shortlist potential partners for a major project.
After a week, we reviewed the shortlist with the boss. At the end, he asked “How does each company complement us?”
That’s a strange question, I thought, taking some time to process my answer.
My colleague went first:
“Company A’s solution includes the XYZ feature that we cannot do on our own.
Company B can also offer ABC services – something we don’t do well.
Company C …”
I am eternally grateful that my colleague beat me to the punch to reply.
Because I was going to rather self-importantly say:
“We shortlisted only companies that love working with us. I know each company well and they have all 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 us for our professionalism.”
What lesson did I learn?
Slow down for yellow lights.
Each time I’m unsure now of an issue – and see a yellow light – I still laugh to myself and think of that near miss.
And then I slow down and seek clarification.
Have you beaten a yellow light before, only to get it all wrong?